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A Real Spook—Just Not One of Them

Jason’s journey in Black Swan Green by David Mitchell is largely defined by his desire to fit in. Throughout the novel, he constantly adjusts himself to avoid attention, especially because of his stammer, and tries to navigate the strict social hierarchy of his peers(but I think classmates is more fitting). However, the “Spooks” chapter becomes a turning point where Jason is forced to step outside his comfort zone and go against the social norms he has spent so long trying to follow. From the beginning of the initiation, the pressure to conform is clear. The boys lay out the rules, warning that, “If yer in time, welcome to the Spooks. If yer late… yer ain’t no Spook and yer never will be” (Mitchell 134). This shows how acceptance in the group is based entirely on performance. Jason pushes through fear and difficulty, and when he finally finishes the course, he succeeds, having “qualified for Spooks…[with] ‘Ten seconds to spare!’” (Mitchell 141). At this moment, Jason has achieved exact...
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Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…Why Dad Controls It All

In the graphic memoir Fun Home , we see Alison Bechdel and her complicated relationship with her father, Bruce Bechdel. An aspect of the book that caught my attention from the very beginning were the expectations that Bruce places on Alison as she grows up. Bruce tries to control and shape Alison’s behavior and identity through control and criticism. But this is not simply parenting or disciplining her; I believe Bruce attempts to shape Alison's behavior and identity because HE is unable to fully express himself.  From an early age, Bruce controls how Alison presents herself AND how she should present herself. He often criticizes her appearance and pushes her to look more traditionally feminine. Alison describes her father as someone who paid close attention to appearances. This can be seen in the family home. She writes, “My father could spin garbage into gold” (Bechdel 6) highlighting his obsession with perfection and presentation. Alison, however, prefers a more masculi...
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My Conspiracy After Re-reading Daddy and The Bell Jar

     When I first read Sylvia Plath’s poem “Daddy,” I was extremely shocked by its use of Nazi and Holocaust imagery to describe her relationship with her father, comparing him to a Nazi and herself to a Jewish victim. It took me some time to get over the shock and confusion of why she chose to write this way, since I had pictured Plath as a really demure, kind, and gentle lady. But as I thought about this, I decided to do a little research into her life and take a closer look at The Bell Jar and “Daddy” side by side. From The Bell Jar and the discovery of Ted Hughes’s affair with Assia Wevill, to “Daddy,” I began to see it as a layered act of revenge, or at least some kind of silent confrontation, or silent acknowledgment. It made me wonder : What if “Daddy” is not only about her father, but about the three figures who wounded her most- her father, her husband, and the woman with whom he betrayed her?      In The Bell Jar , Plath’s protagonist, Esther Gr...
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More Than Honesty

      In The Catcher in the Rye , I believe Holden Caulfield’s honesty is closely connected to his deep need for someone to listen to him and understand his feelings. Throughout the novel, Holden claims to hate “phoniness,” and this belief pushes him to be brutally honest about his thoughts, even when they are uncomfortable or confusing. From the beginning to the end of the book, his honesty is not just a personality trait, but a way of reaching out and connecting with others. Holden often talks openly about his loneliness, sadness, and fear of growing up. Yet, he presents himself as someone who wants to be left alone, while his actions suggest the opposite. He constantly seeks interaction with others, whether by calling people, starting conversations with strangers, or reflecting intensely on past relationships. Holden repeatedly thinks about contacting Jane Gallagher, admitting, “I figured maybe I’d give old Jane a buzz” (Salinger 63), and later, “I might give old ...
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